Belarusian army servicemen. The photo is for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Vayar Military Information Agency
A bill “On amendments to laws on military security and defense” has been submitted to the House of Representatives. The document has been published in the database of draft laws on the National Legal Internet Portal. It provides for amendments to three key laws: “On Defense,” “On the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus,” and “On Martial Law.” We outline the main changes.
Armed defense as the basis of defense. The new version of the law “On Defense” explicitly states that the armed defense of Belarus is the central element of defense policy. Previously, the definition emphasized a combination of legal, political, economic, and social measures, but now the use of force is a priority. The tasks in wartime have also been clarified: in a conflict, the army must not only repel aggression but also defeat the enemy with the aim of concluding peace on terms that do not contradict the national interests of Belarus.
Strengthening the role of the General Staff. The General Staff will be given powers to coordinate the entire military system – from planning mobilization to proposing measures to Alyaksandr Lukashenka in response to military threats, including non-military means of conflict resolution. It will also become the main body for interaction with other security and paramilitary structures.
Updated tasks of the army in peacetime. The article on the functions of the Armed Forces significantly expands the list of tasks. Among the new ones are:
prevention of internal armed conflict;
participation in information warfare in the interests of the state;
response to crises in Belarus and among allies;
countering border incidents and provocations.
The grounds for martial law have been expanded. Now, not only aggression against Belarus, but also an attack on the Union State or a member country of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) can be grounds for its introduction.
The law also introduces the concept of “militarized organizations.” This will allow structures outside the Armed Forces, such as the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the KGB, or the Ministry of Emergency Situations, to be involved in defense.
The bill is intended to bring national legislation into line with the new Military Doctrine approved in 2024.
The bill must be passed in two readings in the House of Representatives and then approved by the Council of the Republic. After that, it will be sent to Lukashenka for signature. Once officially published, the new law will come into force.